£600,000 bail-out
increase for other staff groups.
SBC leader Euan Jardine, a Galashiels representative, said: “Live Borders is the council’s sport, leisure and culture trust and we remain absolutely committed to working together with the Live Borders board members and staff to deal with the challenges currently being experienced.
“The provision of £600,000 will allow Live Borders to pay the real Living Wage, which is a key criteria for achieving external funding, and is also vital in attracting and retaining staff.
“As the programme develops and more work is undertaken and projects completed, I have no doubt that savings will be achieved, income generating opportunities developed and other external funding sourced, which will help toward our long-term goal of financial sustainability.”
Alison Moore, chair of Live Borders, said: “Our staff are fundamental to the success of Live Borders. We have to treat them fairly and we also have to be able to compete in the recruitment market, to attract and retain the best people to run our services. That is why it is important that we, like the council, move to pay the real Living Wage.
“The transformation programme is progressing well, and we will continue to work through this year of positive change to reach a sustainable financial footing going forward. We are still in the very early stages and there is much work still to do.”
Nine projects being undertaken by Live Borders and Scottish Borders Council following a joint review of sport, leisure and cultural services and facilities are expected to be complete by the end of the month, councillors will be told this week.
They are among 34 projects in a joint transformational change programme aimed at delivering high quality services now and in the future through a financially sustainable and high performing partnership between the two organisations.
Projects within the joint transformational change programme include the development of detailed options appraisals and associated consultation on the future of the council-owned buildings operated and managed by Live Borders which meet various criteria, including high repair/maintenance costs, decreasing user numbers, increased running costs and where there is the potential to relocate or co-locate services.